Ethernet external hard drives

since airdisk only works when it wants to and is slow.
i am looking at an ext. HD with ethernet capability such as "WD world edition II"
does anyone have experience with using ethernet drives with mac equipment.
-will the drive appear automatically or will i have to connect to it every-time?
thanks
Message was edited by: avinbc

Stellalilly9109, Welcome to the discussion area!
This area is for discussing the 802.11n AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) and wireless networking. Your question has nothing to do with that.
You should ask your question in the iTunes discussion area.

Similar Messages

Firewire vs. ethernet external hard drives

What is better in terms of external hard drive connections? I have a home/office Verizon wireless network, MacBook Pro and G5s using Airport, with all peripherals connected via Ethernet to the router and want to add a hard drive. I am not sure if I should just connect a firewire hard drive to one desktop workstation? I also want to be able to be able to set up Time Machine, hopefully for my 3 workstations when I go to Leopard.
Also, any suggestions as to the best hard drive brand and models?

Thanks so much.
Do you know what the issues are with network drives and Time Machine. Is it with the devices or with the actual software? If its the hardware are there types that work best?
I am trying to figure out how to set up my backup and storage situation on my network. I like your suggestion of using a Firewire drive cabled to my main Power G5 workstation and using file sharing for the other Macs. I have a wireless MacBook Pro and a G4 and another G3 connected to my Verizon router via Ethernet. So using your suggested setup, I should be able to have all computers access the LaCie drive connected to the G5. But I would like to use Time Machine for the laptop and the G5 since this is where most of my work is done.
What would you suggest? What I would like to end up with is one fast as possible drive for my music, video and pics that I can play and work off of. But I was also looking for some way to have some duplication and automation using TM that could also backup the ongoing graphic work in the office. I was thinking of connecting a Time Capsule or another brand of Ethernet connected drive to my network via a Ethernet switch I have dedicated for 2 network printers. I could keep the Firewire drive on my G5 or maybe connected it to the Ethernet connected drive and have TM backup everything. Am I overcomplicating this?

Mounting external hard drive at start up

Hello, I have a G5 and I recently purchased an ethernet external hard drive. I also have a PC and two powerbooks. Since I have so many computers and so many different users I want to be able to centralize my music collection and also all the files like pictures and movies. The problem is that the other users at my house hate mounting the external hard drive each time they turn their computer on, or bring it back from sleep mode. In windows I have the HD mapped and each time the computer starts the drive is mounted automatically. I would like to do the same thing on OS X. As soon as I start any of the mac computers and they finish booting up, I want to be able to see the external HD mounted without having to click any buttons or type in any passwords. Anybody knows how to do this? Thank you so much for your help
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

sounds like you should set up a file server with OSX server software...

External Ethernet/NAS Hard Drive with Time Machine

Hi,
I'm going to be purchasing a Mac Book Pro once leopard is launched and I'm wanting to get an external hard drive to back up using Time Machine. Now, I'm wanting to set this up through a wireless router so that a can make my backups without having to remember to connect every so often.
Does anybody know if Time Machine works via NAS/Ethernet as the Tech Spec of Time Machine just mentions USB and Firewire? I presume it will work, as it would seem a little daft if it doesn't.
Following on from that, does anybody have any recommendations for external NAS/ethernet hard drives? I was wanting something from 250GB to 500GB. I have seen this one -
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4J9D&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=ext ernalhard+driveethernet&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=50473
And this one -
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128482
Any help is very much appreciated!

Yes, networked drives, servers, etc., will work as a Time Machine target -- all it needs is a folder it can write to. I'll leave the drive recommendation to someone else.

Can I use my Time Capsule as a External Hard Drive (through Ethernet) ONLY?

Here is my situation:
I am a college student and have been using my Time Capsule to create a wireless network (or extend a previous one) and also to store my iTunes library content (kind of like a wireless hard drive). I just moved into a new apartment and they already have a wireless network and it works just fine how it is. I know that I can extend the network through my Time Capsule (wirelessly because I don't have a long enough ethernet cord to connect into the existing modem), but I don't need/want to because it would just add another path of access for data to go through. I don't mind just having my computer connect wirelessly to the existing wireless router rather than sending it wirelessly through the Time Capsule which would then just need to send the data to the existing router. It just seems like it would make things slower and I don't want to even deal with it. I hope that makes sense.
This is what I want to do and I'm wondering if it is possible and if so how to do it. First, I want my computer to be connected to the current wireless network (as if I didn't even have a TIme Capsule extending the network) so I can access the internet BUT SECOND, I want to access the iTunes library content I have saved on the Time Capsule through a direct ethernet connection. I have too much content (i.e. movies, music...etc) to be able to save it all on my laptop and so that is why it is on the Time Capsule. So simply, if the Time Capsule is plugged into my laptop, can I have it so it ONLY acts like a normal ethernet connected external hard drive?

TC can be set a number of different ways.. Just run it as a router for now.. ie exactly at default.. The fact that you don't have WAN address or connection is irrelevant.. we can tell the TC to ignore the problem. At default the TC is 10.0.1.1
The only issue you can have is if the wireless network is also 10.0.x.x. if it is change the IP of the TC to 192.168.10.1 (or whatever you like.. as long as it isn't the same).
Use static IP settings for the network in the Mac.. you can use exactly the same IP and subnet the TC passed by dhcp. Just no router (gateway) or dns.. so as to not confuse the main network.
You seem to be worrying to much about getting everything right..
Start.. learn.. it is faster to do it and see what happens.. than keep asking questions.
If you run into a snag disconnect the TC.. or reset to default and ask the specific question.

Using Time Capsule as an external hard drive with ethernet cable, disabling airport, using wifi from laptop

Okay, first of all, I admit right off the bat that I should have bought an external hard drive. Now I am stuck with a 3TB Time Capsule that I want to tie to my laptop via ethernet cable, without having the Time Capsule disable my laptop's current wifi. So, I want to be able to back up my laptop (using the ethernet cable and Time Machine) to my Time Capsule drive and still be able to be surfing the internet as if I didn't have Time Capsule at all.
My MacBook Pro is OS 10.7.5.
Any thoughts are much appreciated.

This is not difficult.
You need to work out one issue beforehand..
What IP address range does the computer get from the wifi router.. ?
If you get 10.0.x.x then you will need to adjust the settings on the TC to a different IP range.. eg 192.168.1.1 for the TC.
Tell me what IP you get on wireless. I will assume for now you are getting 192.168.x.x
In the ethernet setup on the laptop, choose configure IPv4 Manually.
Give the computer an IP address say 10.0.1.10 with 255.255.255.0 subnet. Do not fill in router or dns values.
You can now find the ethernet linked TC and get internet via the airport.
On the TC itself, just leave it in router mode.. and ignore all the errors.. turn off the wireless.

Can I connect a external hard drive to the TC thru the Ethernet instead of the USB port so it will transfer data faster

I Want to connect the external hard drive so that I can transfer files faster then the USB 2.0. There is a thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter that you can buy I I just want to know if the hard drive can be accessed thru the Ethernet line instead of the USB. I think it will work faster than the USB. But not sure

It won't work.. the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter doesn't work without drivers and the external thunderbolt drive is not now or ever a network drive.
Yes you can plug an ethernet type drive into the TC.. or into anywhere on the network.. it is after all another network drive..
eg Another TC is a network drive.
Seagate or WD make reasonably priced network drives. But they will not have the HFS+ format which the TC does.
You can buy a NAS from any of a whole range of companies.. A NAS is an ethernet connected drive.
See the reviews here to pick a NAS.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-charts/view

Mac book pro + external hard drive plus desktop with ethernet router combo

Can anyone advise - for or against / solutions that might be possible as I'm considering time capsule.
Currently
Desktop = Mac Pro - 230GB hard drive no wireless card.
One ethernet port going to router into which my broadband is piped. Out of the router - ethernet to plug in lap top in other room (hubby not so found of wireless).
Back up = 500GB external formac drive (noisy and vibrates) connected via fire wire. All my photos and music go direct to the formac drive (are not on desktop or laptop).
I do backup of documents from desktop to the external hardrive manually.
I have a mac book pro which I access the internet by the the ethernet (but don't think I can file share because of the router which I think just pipes the internet to both computers).
*What I would like to do*
1) Access documents from the desktop vire wireless when working on laptop.
2) Continue to store photos and music without clogging up my desktop hard drive.
3) Get a quieter external hard drive (been noisy since day 1)
4) Easy backup of of photos and music (at the moment only one copy exists on hard drive which I am concerned about (other than DVD).
5) Turn wireless off when not working on laptop - hubby concerned about privacy and I work from home so have confidential material I have to guarentee is secure.
Can any one point me to whether time capsule and or other bits would meet my needs?
Thanks - Lou

1) is doable I use that functionality Even from Pennsylvania to Michigan
2) I use the TC as backup for my primary hard drive although I always use two back up hard drives for my primary. I use the Finder not Time Machine.
3) The LaCie d2 or the quadra work fine with TC. They are quiet and sleep appropriately.
4) is doable and related to your one.
5) secure your router and wireless setup is not a problem.
You can also use the setup of the external to interact with ATV. Like streaming movies to ATV

Time Capsule as an External Hard Drive + Ethernet Cable question

In reading up on the Time Capsule, it can be used as a router and for storage purposes.
Some questions:
1) can the Time Capsule be used just as an external hard drive, not for back up purposes at all? Is there a setting that needs to be checked to make sure that it doesnt back up anything at all.
2) can I move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via an ethernet cable for faster speeds? Do I need a special ethernet cable?
3) can I also move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via wifi if I want, just wondering if it is possible?

slumpey326 wrote:
1) can the Time Capsule be used just as an external hard drive, not for back up purposes at all?
yes.
however, files stored on the TC's disk cannot be backed up using time machine. also, if the drive fails, it will be very difficult to retrieve the data from it.
in other words, you need to find alternatives ways to backing up your data.
Is there a setting that needs to be checked to make sure that it doesnt back up anything at all.
turn time machine off in system preferences > time machine.
2) can I move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via an ethernet cable for faster speeds?
i'm not 100 % sure about a PC but definitely from a Mac.
Do I need a special ethernet cable?
[Cat6_|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6cable] will be fine.
3) can I also move files from a macbook or pc to the time capsule via wifi if I want, just wondering if it is possible?
again, not sure about the PC but yes for the Mac.
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

External hard drive via ethernet ok?

I've been looking for an external hard drive to attach to my g4 450mhz tower (yeah, it's eight years old this month). I need to download files (photographs, illustrator files, and indesign files), fonts, etc. from my computer and bring them with me to New York.
Today, I saw this iomega 500gb drive with ethernet and usb 2 and was wondering if this would work for me and how reliable ethernet is to transfer files...
My concern is with getting something that will hook up to my old tower, and then I'll need to attach it to a new Macbook Pro in NY to download my files.
Good solution? Bad? It's 159 euros...
It's just the first time I see ethernet as a connect possibility...you know it's usually sata, firewire and usb...
I guess the usb 2 would be compatible with my old usb port...yes? no? but be slow as ****. Then I thought maybe cause it has ethernet that might do me good...
thanks for any advice/suggestions...

I have a 733 G4 and it doesn't support USB2 which was not finalized until 2001 and your machine is probably older but like mine has only USB old and Firewire400 support. I think the easiest most compatible solution for you would be an external Firewire400 drive, which is about the same speed as USB2 and a lot easier to deal with than an ethernet drive, and probably cheaper. Also, the FW400 drive will plug right in to the MBPro which has a FW400 port right next to the FW800 port. I know I have a FW800 drive that has all the other ports on the back of the drive, so you can plug in a USB2 or FW400 or another FW800 and still only be using one port on the MBPro. Check out Other World Computing for some ideas.

Can I connect an external hard drive to one of the ethernet port of the airport extreme and access it from my Mac or PC?

Can I connect an external hard drive to one of the ethernet port of the airport extreme and access it from my Mac or PC?

If this hard drive is part of a NAS device, then yes it should be accessable from either a Mac or PC while connected to the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) by Ethernet.

Ethernet not connected when using external hard drive

My brand new Mac Mini (mid 2010) works fine when I connected it out of the box to my router via Ethernet cable. But when I boot that new mini using an external hard drive (La Cie 500 GByte Firewire 800 connection), the Ethernet shows up as "Not connected". It advises that I should plug it in, or the other end may not be plugged in. But when I simply reboot again to the internal hard drive, without changing any connections, the internet connection works fine. When I boot a different and older Mac Mini (2.0 GHz Core Duo) off that same external hard drive (using Firewire 400 of course), the internet connection works fine. I'm stumped despite using Macs since 1986. I tried automatic mode, but I can't get far, because it thinks there is nothing plugged into the Ethernet port. But there is, and it even works when booting off the internal hard drive. Both the internal and external OS are at 10.6.4, latest. I also tried erasing the internal hard drive so it couldn't get confused, but that didn't help. What else to try?

The ethernet service has nothing to do with the cable plugged or not, and the ethernet cable is working fine with the other system, so definitely the issue with your other OS. Forget about the working OS for now and boot into the OS that has the problem and select the ethernet service from the service list in System Preferences > Network then click on minus button then apply the changes then click the plus to add it again.
If this didn't work, go to :
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
and trash the NetworkInterfaces.plist file then restart and see if it solves the issue.

I need to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp what disk do i use and how do i move certain files from an external hard drive

I want to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp. I need to know what disk to use and also how i take certain files off my external hard drive and put on my computer. When I was having problems with my airport they did a clean install and they pulled files of my time machine.   however they forgot to put the partition back in for a windows side. Originally I had Parellels on my computer. After my external hard drive got corrupted i called apple and they fixed the problem but didn't have me set up the time machine except for the external hard drive. Now my only back up is from the external not from the laptop.    I am not sure how to do any of this. I am not computer savvy...PLEASE I NEED HELP>

First, you need to make a backup of your MBP onto your external drive. I suggest you start by cloning your MBP drive to the external drive:
Clone Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
This clone is fully bootable and also contains a clone of your Recovery HD.
Second, you need to do a clean install of OS X onto your MBP as follows:
Install or Reinstall Mavericks or Mountain Lion from Scratch
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
OS X Mavericks- Erase and reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Erase and reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Erase and reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
            because it is three times faster than wireless.
This should accomplish your goals. You will have a clean install of OS X on your MBP and a bootable clone of your old system and all your files on the external drive.

External hard drive not working with Time Machine

I have an Iomega network hard drive attached via ethernet cable to my Airport Extreme router.
I plugged the hard drive in. Everything works like it should. I can see the drive in Finder and I can read and write to the drive. I do share the network drive in a mixed WIN and OS X environment. I never had to reformat the drive and I can read/write to the drive with no problems from all of my computers.
I turned on Time Machine on my iMac and walked through the simple setup screens there. I never set anything up on the hard drive through the drive interface software. And Time Machine worked fine for about 4 months. Then all of a sudden, Time Machine just stopped backing up and I got all kinds of error messages saying that the TIme Machine backup failed.
So I went into Time Machine, turned it off, turned it back on. No luck. Same error messages.
So I started fresh. I deleted the prior Time Machine backups and I am back at the TIme Machine set up screen. OS X can see the TIme Machine share on my external hard drive and I tell the setup wizard that's the drive I want to use.
Then I get a window that says it's trying to connect to the external hard drive which I call "Cloud_Drive". After about 30 seconds, I get an error window that says
"There was a problem connecting to the server "Cloud_Drive-TimeMachine"
The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network connection, and then try again.
At this point the external drive is still visible in FInder and I can read/write to it from my iMac. I just cannot understand why Time Machine was working and then all of a sudden it stopped.
I did go into the software management of the drive and found an area in which to turn Time Machine on on the drive's side. Which I never did before so I turned it on and then I'm prompted to enter the name of the computer and the ethernet ID. I entered the name of the iMac and I have tried using the WiFI MAC address - no luck getting TIme Machine to work and I've also entered Terminal, found a MAC address under the line titled "ether" and still the same result.
I have also changed the destination of the Time Machine files on the external hard drive and the Time Machine wizard does write a sparcebundle file to that new location but still get the same error message above.

Is it a firewire ext. HD?
Yes, many are reporting same, there is a firewire fault and TB HD on external HD from LaCie (Seagate) and from WD especially.
Technicians are looking into it.
Until there is resolution, consider setting up a USB ext. Time machine HD.
Until then consider confining Mavericks use with USB HD.
Ive tested a long line of USB HD on Mavericks, all seem fine.

I want to save important files/programs on an external hard drive, delete EVERYTHING on my computer, install snow leopard, and reload everything i saved on to a clean slate. Is this possible/practical?

I was just thinking that it would be better to wipe the entire hard drive clean and reinstall some programs rather than go through and move certain things to the trash. Basically rebuild my software and file collection from the ground up, omitting what is unnecessary. Then again, I have no idea what i'm doing.
My macbook was purchased in late 2008. 2gb RAM. OS X 10.5.6. It's been going very slow lately so i decided i would look up how to improve. Snow leopard was recommended as well as changing my RAM. And so here I am.
I don't have an external hard drive so i was going to just compress all my files and save them to my emac via ethernet. would they be harmed?
also, i have alot of projects in ableton (a music recording/writing program). Would saving and transferring them be just as simple as finding the song? or are other components of a certain song saved in other locations?
sorry this is so lengthy. i should probably stick with something simple but i just want things to run as smoothly as possible for as long as possible
thanks very much

Here's some info that may be helpful.
Installing Snow Leopard: What you need to know
http://www.macworld.com/article/1142454/install_snow_leopard.html.
You should get a Firewire connected hard drive and backup your MB's HD to it. That way, if something goes wrong during the installation, you can recover your current sytem, apps and files. After the SL install, you can use the external HD for frequent backups.
 Cheers, Tom

Ethernet external hard drives

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